involve a close and critical assessment of the conditions that warrant having the Church declare other religious practices to be heretical, and more importantly, what conditions-if any-necessitate that it must take action against such practices.”
Stearns looked at the other two. Then he took a deep, slow breath while he gazed out at the flat Saxon countryside visible through the still-open tent flap. The sun was setting. There was still enough light to see by, but his batman had already lit the lamps inside the tent.
He now understood why Ed and Francisco had come all this way to discuss the matter with him, despite the fact that he was no longer the USE’s prime minister. He wasn’t even a member of Parliament any longer, since he’d resigned from his seat when he accepted his commission in the army. They were probably violating at least twenty rules of political protocol, but…
Political protocol be damned. He looked back at his two visitors. “He’s going to do a down-time version of Vatican II.” The statement was flat and certain.
Francisco nodded. “Which has triggered responses from the clergy of every major nation. Mind you, their statements are not always declarative-there are a lot of carefully muted reactions-but it seemed that no one wanted to remain silent.”
Stearns leaned forward. “So how does it shake out?”
Ed scratched his head through his thinning hair. “Well, with the exception of a couple of whacko Calvinist sects that even the mainstream Calvinists avoid, every single major Protestant clerical figure or council has come out with either strong or guarded support for Urban’s initiative. That includes most of the major voices in Switzerland and England.”
“No surprise, there,” observed Mike, who eyed the small bottle of up-time whiskey that Ed was slowly edging out of his pocket.
“A similar level of support is looked for from Gustav, who we suspect will be in touch with you about a joint statement, given how prominently Larry Mazzare’s name has figured in all this.”
Mike rolled his eyes. “Make my day.”
“Other regions declaring for Urban include the entirety of the Low Countries and, conspicuously, every one of the USE’s Catholic provinces. Bohemia and Austria are being a bit more circumspect. They are careful to say nothing about Borja, but both express their relief to learn that ‘the pope is alive’ and look forward to his further messages.”
Mike shrugged. “Still, that’s about as overt as they can be without spitting in Borja’s-and therefore Philip’s- eye.”
“Yeah,” said Ed, “and while we’re on the topic of spitting in Philip’s eye, there was one real shocker among the Catholic nations: one of them made an almost militant statement averring Urban’s legitimacy. The bishops who signed it even called directly upon Borja to vacate the cathedra which he had-and I quote-‘brutally usurped from the true pope.’”
“Whoa. Dem’s fightin’ words. Where’d they come from?”
Francisco smiled. “Ireland. If you can believe it.”
Mike frowned. “Not so hard to believe, really. As I understand it, with the prohibitions against Catholic colleges there, most of their clergy gets educated in Rome or the Low Countries. They used to go to Spain a lot, but not so much any more. Guess they got tired of being second-class Spanish citizens.”
Ed nodded. “Yes, and some of them get educated in France, now, too. Which brings up what might be the trickiest of all the reactions: the ones coming out of France. The French cardinals that really matter-the ones who belong to the Consistory-all welcomed the news of ‘our pope’s continued survival and future safety.’ No surprises that they slipped in that affirmation of Urban’s continued legitimacy; he has a lot of friends in that quarter. However, Gaston has rallied a lot of hard-line bishops to support his claim that, as a true defender of the faith, Borja’s attack was justified because Urban destroyed his own legitimacy by tolerating and giving papal imprimatur to heretics.”
“Meaning us.”
“Among others-although with Urban’s rescue and safety being openly attributed to up-time intervention, I think it safe to assume that we head the list of the aforementioned ‘heretics.’”
“Along with Venice,” added Nasi, “which also declared strongly for Urban. The papal lands that aren’t under direct Spanish control are making similar, if less vehement, noises.”
Mike nodded. “Okay. You’ve pumped me up with the good news. So hit me with the bad.”
“Well, obviously Spain and all its associated satrapies and client states are firmly behind Borja. That includes Milan and Naples-although the popular sentiment there is for Urban, building on the extant desire to evict Philip’s tercios from Italy.”
“As you said, no great surprise. Who else, Ed?”
“Poland and Bavaria are Borja country, also. Strongly so.”
Stearns looked from one to the other. “That can’t be all. I’m not saying it’s not reason enough to come out here to update me-but I know you guys; you’ve still got something else up your sleeve. What is it?”
Nasi smiled. “Michael, are we really that transparent?”
“Entirely. Now, what gives? More trouble?”
“More detailed news from Venice. Including some new considerations that should not be communicated by radio,” amended Nasi with a sly look.
“Okay, stop building the suspense, Francisco. What’s the news from sunny Italy?”
“All good, except that the casualties at Molini have been confirmed: the number was not in error. Otherwise, the various parties have arrived in their various destinations safely. Our expanded papal envoy “-you mean, The Traveling Pope Show?” put in Mike.
“-yes, them-are, according to Sharon’s report from Chur, evolving nicely as a team. Tom Stone’s report from Venice is one long paean of praise for how Estuban Miro handled his part of the rescue and protection planning. According to Tom, Miro apparently possesses-among other as-yet-undemonstrated skills-the ability to walk upon water, too.”
“And Miro’s own report?”
Nasi smiled. “As unpretentious and brief a document as I have ever seen. After itemizing the expenses incurred, and summarizing the actions undertaken-in which he indicates that Harry Lefferts was the prime architect of the final attack plan-he concludes with the most terse summary I have ever seen: ‘objectives were achieved; all operations may be considered nominally successful.’”
Stearns looked at Francisco narrowly. “Okay, Francisco, I know that smug look and tone of voice. What’re you holding back?”
“Nothing-except that, as I suspected at the outset, Miro performed admirably. Most admirably.”
“And you were right. So what?”
Ed coughed. “Mike, I really don’t have a chief of intelligence, with Francisco gone. Cory Lang is a good field man, a good observer-but damn it, he’s not cut out to run an intelligence-and counterintelligence-group. You need a chess master for that-and that’s Miro to a tee.”
Mike frowned. “You sound like this is an urgent decision.”
“Mike, I think it is, because if Miro is the guy we ultimately want doing that job, we’re going to have to commit to it now. Even if we don’t tell him.”
Mike’s eyes went briefly to Ed’s bottle as the former principal of Grantville High School produced three shot glasses as well. “Tell me why.”
Francisco sighed. “Politics: what else? First, this council Urban is calling is going to be a powder keg of continental proportions. Anyone who goes to it is effectively drawing a line in the sand in front of Philip. I doubt Philip supports what Borja has done, but his pride and Spain’s are now inextricably entwined with the would-be pope. And certain matters-family matters-are going to come to a head, as a result.”
Mike nodded. “Ferdinand in Austria and Fernando in the Low Countries.”
“Yes. Particularly the latter. Austria is a completely separate state, and its completely separate monarchs can agree to disagree; they have before. However, the Low Countries’ position in relation to Madrid is nebulous, and this is going to the defining moment of Fernando’s autonomy.”
Ed picked up the thread. “So far, both brothers have been careful not to get into a show-down, but this situation could force them into it. And here’s what could make it unavoidable: Fernando is going to send Cardinal
